Russian developer Nikita is working on a new MMORPG entitled Sphere. The fantasy-based game features fully-supported first-person perspective and a day-to-night transition system. Sociables will be interested in the fact that Sphere also includes clans and multiplayer missions. However, there is only one race (human, of course) and there are only ten character models.

In addition, various features have been added to reduce "player-killing" and other problems encountered in most MMORPGs. One such feature is the karma system, which measures the actions of characters in order to determine their fate. In lawful areas, crimes are punishable with various life-reducing spells, which leaves criminals vulnerable to other merciless players. "Good" characters are then free to root out the undesirable players for karmic relocation. This means that misbehaving players may be reborn on more suitable continents full of scoundrels like themselves. Here, they are free to run amok, since acts such as robbery and murder are not punished with bad karma in these areas. This system is designed to group players according to personal common interests.

Sphere is set for a release sometime before the end of this year, but it is not clear if that date is for other regions or Russia alone.